WINSTON-SALEM, NC – A high school student from North Carolina has been indicted on charges of kidnapping and assaulting a government official, according to an announcement made by the Forsyth County District Attorney’s office. The charges stem from an incident that occurred two weeks ago, where the student allegedly slapped and threatened a teacher, an act that was captured on video and subsequently went viral.
The student, 17-year-old Aquavis Hickman, is also facing charges for a separate assault on another teacher at the same institution, Parkland High School, which allegedly took place in February.
The Forsyth County District Attorney, Jim O’Neill, explained during a press conference that a grand jury was convened last Monday. The jury, comprised of community members, returned two bills of indictment against Hickman. He will be charged as an adult, facing second-degree kidnapping charges related to the April 15 incident with a female teacher.
The charges allege that Hickman unlawfully confined and restrained the teacher without her consent, with the intention of terrorizing her. According to O’Neill, Hickman also communicated threats against the teacher, claiming he was going to kill her.
The viral video shared on social media seemingly shows Hickman slapping his teacher twice amidst a profanity-filled tirade. The teacher’s glasses were knocked off her face due to the force of the slap.
In addition to these charges, Hickman has been indicted on similar charges for the alleged assault on the second teacher in February. He was also indicted on a misdemeanor count of riot, based on allegations that he gathered with at least two others and engaged in a public disturbance, kidnapping the second teacher and attempting to fight him.
O’Neill, along with Sheriff Kimbrough and Chief Penn, have pledged their commitment to ensuring the safety of teachers. They have vowed to not tolerate any assaults on teachers, promising swift and severe punishment for any such actions.
The officials emphasized the importance of protecting educators, with Kimbrough stating that every person owes a debt to the teachers who educated them. He also noted that incidents involving students have been on a steady rise since 2020.